THE HOLOCAUST - THE UNTOLD STORY

Description

THE TRUTH BEHIND EVENTS THAT LED TO SIX MILLION VICTIMS
DISC ONE - GHETTO THERESIENSTADT
Between 1941 and 1945 the small fortress town of Theresienstadt in Czechoslovakia became a transit point to the death camps in the east for thousands of Czech, German, Austrian and Dutch Jews. All those deported to Theresienstadt were led to believe it was an "end camp" from which they would travel no further. They were promised a comfortable and peaceful life in the "Reich home for the aged" and were hoodwinked into signing over to the S.S. all of their properties and assets. In reality, many would be sent on to death camps such as Auschwitz. From 1943, following international concern, the Nazis developed Theresienstadt into a "show camp" a propaganda exercise designed to conceal from the outside world what was really happening to Europe's Jews. A large scale "beautification" programme swung into action, giving the camp a pleasant and respectable facade, a deception that succeeded in shielding the terrible truth.
DISC TWO THE YELLOW STAR
'One hundred dead are a catastrophe; millions of dead are a statistic' The horrendous observations of Adolf Eichmann. This Oscar nominated documentary serves not only as a remembrance but a lesson and a warning for the future. It follows the plight of Europe's Jews during the terrifying period from 1933 until the final defeat of the Third Reich in 1945. Never before had the world seen such contempt for human life on such a grand scale, the murder of an estimated 6 million Jews, with countless others persecuted. During the 1930s a wave of national fervour swept through a tumultuous Germany; people looked for answers, and the politicians were all too willing to point the finger of blame towards the Jewish population. Few, if any, could have foreseen how the views of one man would unfoldthat man was Adolf Hitler.
DISC THREE - MAJDANEK
Discovered by Russian troops in July 1944 the Majdanek Nazi concentration and extermination camp near Lubin was the scene of some of Hitler's most disturbing handy work. Apart from using carbon monoxide, Majdanek was one of only two camps to use the deadly Zyklon B to poison victims in its gas chambers. In the hands of the Nazis, the efficient use of these chemicals would result in the extermination of a massive number of inmates. Majdanek was also unique among the death camps, in that Jewish prisoners did not form the overwhelming majority of its intake. Of the total inmates only 40% were Jewish, 35% Polish and the balance predominantly Belarusians, Ukrainians, Austrians, French, Russians, Italians and Dutch. This rare and stark documentary graphically portrays the methodical murder, starvation and torture of an estimated 2 million innocent victims and demonstrates the frightening efficiency of the German death camps. Also captured here on film are rare scenes from a Russian post-war tribunal, where survivors are seen giving evidence against captured SS officers and camp officials, this evidence was often to result in the conviction and execution of those standing accused.